Submersible pump and the like



1.18. KEA TING. SUBMERSIBLE PUMP ANDTHE LIKE. APPLICATION FILED APR. 4.1921;

Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

fl itorneys Patented Sept. 5, 1922.

UNITED STATES JOHN B. xun'rme, or PIEDMONT, camromvia.

SUBHERSIBLE PUMP AND THE LIKE.

Application filed it 4,

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that I, JOHN B. KEATING, a citizen of the United States, andresident of Piedmont, Alameda Count California,

have invented new and useful mprovements suited to other wells not cased'or wells where the casing is perforated above the pump, and in suchcases is referably to be provided with a suitable casing or dischargepipe connected to the said pump and immediately surrounding the motor.

In pumps of thisgeneral type it has heretofore been customary to extenda vert'cal operating shaft from" said pump upw rd through the casing toa suitable motor or driving means located above the well or at leastabove that portion of the \well subject to water overflow during theoperation of the pump, or when it is stopped and water rises around the.pumping end of the unit. Such construction is expensive, bothas tofirst installation and operation and these disadvantages increase as thedepth of the well .or distance through which the water is to be pumpedincreases. Moreover, to

" remove such pump from the well, to repair and replace, becomes acostly process and the maintenance of lubrication to the bearings, ofwhich a number are necessary on account of the long driving shaft, isexpensive and inefiicient and requires special attention in'operationand ex ensive additional supporting structure. iii such bear ingslubrlcation is not infrequently destroyed and they become flooded withwater;

whereas in the pump and motor of my invention thebearmgsflare kept freefrom con tamination with pressure water and adequate lubrication ismaintained throu h a counterbalancing or excess pressure be ind the oilfeed so that no leakage of water into the motor bearings occurs.Moreover, the,

motor is enclosed in a. sealed com artment .of smooth exterior fromwhich t e water.-

1921. serial-1n. 458,304..

'is kept excluded by internal pressure, thus securing at all times afree running, sub- ;merged pump'of minimum weight, requir- -ing aminimum of power, more easily accessible for repairs and replacement andcheaper in first cost and maintenance.

By referring to the accompanying drawings my invention will be madeclear.

Figure 1 is a vertical cross section through a pumping unit of myinvention, as positioned within a well casing and showing one form ofsealing means.

Fig, 2 is similar to Fig. l'with certain of theportions shown in fulllines and with a diagrammatic showing of the oil feeding system and thedelivery pipe.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view of certain of the parts of Fig. 2 whereinI. employ a separate discharge column in place of the sealing means ofFigs.- 1.and'2. Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the upper part of themotor casing of Fig. 1 showing a portion of the casing and thesuspension member and withv pipe and electrical connections passed intothe motor casing through. sealing means. I

Throu' holit the figures similar numerals delivery pipe from which thewater pumped may flow to any desired point of delive 5. A suitablesuspension member 6- an support 7 carry, the weight of the parts. Thesuspension member 6 carries on its lower end the motor casing 9 which shermetically sealed. Betweenthe pump casing. 11' and motor 9 is a shaftbearing 12 and the packing 13, v thereby sealing the joint between thepumpxand ing against water ingress under ordinary conditions. Betweenthe ,:bear1ng 12' and gland means I form the'chamber 16 into which flowsany water that leaks from thepressure side of the pump rimner 17 throughthe sleeve bearing 12 and whlch water w1ll I be discharged therefromfreely; through 1pc the motor casor channel 18, back to the suction side0 the 1pump at 21 or there maybe substituted a ollow shaft or any pipeor conduit connecaccount of the static pressure that will then exist dueto the higher level of the water table at 2. It is clear that anyflooding of the motor casing 9 will be fatal to successful operation andtherefore to insure the operation at any and all times it is essentialto keep the said casing and bearings free' from water. plained below.

In the operation of a submerged pump such as I have here shown I mayemploy the space between the motor casing 9, ump casing 11 and wellcasing 1 as the disc arge column of the pump as shown in Figs. 1, 2 ordischarge column 8 may be employed separate from the well casing as inFig. 3, in either case the discharge will take place in the direction ofthe arrows 22 and be delivered through the outlet 4, at such timesreducing the water level on the suction side within the casing 1 to somepoint such for example as that indicated by the line 23, Fig. 1. Duringpumping the water will be delivered normally through the outlet 4 undersome discharge pressure determined by local conditions and thecharacteristics of This I accomplish as exthe pump. The excess pressurein the delivery column over that in the suction column of the casingmakes necessary a seal between the two which I accomplish either by aseparate discharge pipe to the surface as 8, Fig. 3; or by the cupleather 27, within which there may be an expansion ring member 28 toinsure its contact with the walls of the casing, see Fig. 2, or the saidexpansion member may consist of an air expansion tube having an airsupply connection at 30; or an inflatable tube 31 with an air connectionat 32 may be employed as in Fig. 1. In either case the discharge columnwill be sealed from the suction column either by separate discharge pipeor by the expansion of the member 27 or 31 between the pump casing 11and the well casing 1.

While I have shown a tubular or pipe member 6, from which is suspendedthe motor casing 9, and within which are carried the electric conductors34, 35 and the -oil pipe 37 it will be obvious that these may beseparately conveyed to the motor casing 9 and the latter may besuspended with a cable or in any other well known way. In theconstruction I have shown these conductors and oil pipe are adapted topass through sealing means 10, preferably lo:

cated at the top of the motor casing 9. The oil pipe 37 is adapted to bepassed in any Well known way through the motor casing 9 to its deliveryend, 38 Fig. 1. The upper end of the pipe 37 is connected to a reservoir42 and is fitted with a control valve 43 whereby oil may be fed from apoint above the ground surface 3 to the interior of thesubmerged motorcasing 9, see Fig. 1.

I have also shown .an air pipe 44 which is connected through a suitablecover 46 on the oil reservoir 42 from a source of compressed air or gasshown diagrammatically at 45. A sight gauge at 47 on the reservoir 42indicates the oil level at all times and a pressure gauge at 48indicates the pressure in the motor casing 9.

To insure against the formation of an explosive mixture within the motorcasing 9 a neutral gas may be supplied from the compressor 45 as aninitial charge in the motor casin 9. This neutral gas may with advantagebe air from which the oxygen has been burnt and therefore consist ofnitrogen; or of carbonic acid gas, or any other inert gas may beemployed not detrimental to the apparatus, and in such case I recommendthe primary abstraction of air from the casing 9. This may be done byblowing the air from the casing through a separate pipe 51 and valve 52.

The assembled pump and motor are first let down into the well casing 1by the suspension member 6 to the desired depth, and if the depth issufiicient to make it necessary, air or inert gas is forced into themotor casing 9 as from the compressor 45 through valves 49 and 50 andpipe 37, so that an internal pressure in the casing 9 is indicated onthe gauge 48 sufficient to more than com- Y pensate for any contractionof the normal air within9 due to the external water pressure on accountof the elevation of the water table- 2 above the said casing 9. Thiswill prevent the ingress of any possible water into the pump casing. Asmall quantity of oil is permitted to flow through the pipe to theoutlet 38, lubricating the bearings and packings andoiLsealing the motor"housing 9 between the outside liquid and the inside gas; that 'is, theleakage through the said gland, if any, will be a-very gradual outflowof oil which is constantly replenished from an external source.Lubrication is thus established and thereafter maintained during thepump operation. The water table'drops withinthe casing to the line 23and the water is delivered through the outlet 4 to the reservoir 5. Thepressure conditions within the motor casing 9 are indicated on the gauge48 and this is balanced by the column of oil rising to 47. The runningcondition will therefore at all times be one of perfect lubrication ofthe bearings insured by a slow leakage of oil there- -through.

If the pump is to be shut downfor-any considerable time oil leakage maybe pre-- vented by closing the valve 43.

I am well aware of the explosive nature of hydrocarbon gases mixed withair and of the sparking possibilities in and about electrical apparatusand thatin'some cases crude oil from which the lighter hydrocarbons havenot been entirely extracted may be employed as a lubricant for the pump,

hence the necessity of employing a neutral gas within the pump caseJ Inpracticing my invention it is to be noted that I employ a low pressureatthe suction side of, the pump anda discharge pressure at the outlet ofthe pump and a pressure in themotor casing equal to or in excess ofsuction pressure whether above or below that of the atmosphere, by whichlatter the entry into the motor casing or bearings of any-other fluidthan oil as set forth is prevented. Also I preferto introduce throughthe motor casing and under the said equal or higher pressure a lubricantfor the bearings ofthe moving'parts. In maintaining this equal or higherpressure .in the motor casing, lubrication may be secured in other waysand I may introduce into the motor casing a fluid in which air may beinsoluble and which, lying between the zone ,of air or gas pressure inthe motor housing and the liquid outside ofthe motor housing will act asan imprevious strata to the air or gas and prevent the absorbtion ofthelatter in the water and therefore act as a seal to maintain the saidair or gas intact withinthe motor chamber and consequently retain themotor at all times under proper running condition.

It will also now be seen that instead of introducingair or gas into themotor chamber through the pipe 37, it may beintroduced through the pipe51 either before of after the oil from 42 is" fed therethrough, asclaiming all' and I desire to be understood such variations.

While I have described my invention as particularly adapted to apumping-unit it is to be noted that it may also be employed in hydraulicturbines driving generators or in other submerged machinery andhydraulic devices generally and I' desire to be understood as claimingall such variations,

In speaking of suction pressure I am we'll aware that this may benegative, that is, below the atmospheric pressure and in such case is tobe considered as referred to the absolute zero of pressure.

I claim:

1. In a vertical pumping unit, a motor, an annular casing of smoothexterior, a motor within said casing and a shaft extending through agland in said casing, an impeller adapted to be driven by said saidshaft, an

oil pipe extending from a remotepoint to the lower part of the interiorof said casing and adapted to deliver oil to said gland and meansadapted to establish anoil pressure through said pipe. I

2. In a vertical pumping unit, a motor inclosed .in a circular casin ofsmooth exterior and having a sha t and agland in saidcasing, an impelleroperable by said shaft, an oil pipe extending from a remote point to thelower part'of the interior of said casing and adapted to deliver oil tosaid gland, and "means adapted to establish an oil pressurethrough saidpipe, in combination with a housing for said impellerprovided with inletand outlet passages, the last named passage constructed and adapted todirect water pumped by said impeller over the smooth exterior of saidcasing.

3. In a vertical pumping unit, a motor in- I closed in a circular casingof smooth exterior, a'motor shaft and a gland in said casing, animpeller operable by said shaft, an oil pipe extending from a remotepoint to the lower part of the interior of said casing and adapted todeliver oil to said gland, and means adapted to establish an oilpressure through said pipe, in combination with a housing for saidimpeller provided with inlet and outlet passages, the last named passageCOIlStFllCtGd and adapted to direct water pumped by said impeller overthe a gas pressure in said casing.

"5. Ina vertical pumping unit, a motor and a gas tight/casingin'cl'osing saidmotor, a shaft driven by said motor and passin throughpacking means insaid casing an adapted to drive an impeller, a pipepassing through and terminating in the lower inside of said casing andan oil reservoir feeding lubricant through said pipe under pressure,means including a second pipe by which a predetermined gas pressure maybe established and maintained in said casing, in combination withahousing about said impellerand provided with inlet and outlet passages,the last named passage constructed and adapted to direct water pumped bsaid impeller over the smooth exterior o saidcasing.

6. In a vertical pumping unit, a motor and a gas tight casing inclosingsaid motor, a shaft driven by said motor and passing through packingmeans in said casing and adapted to drive an impeller, a pipe passingthrough and terminating in the lower inside of said casing and an oilreservoir feeding a fluid of low gas solubilitythrough said pipe underpressure, means including a second pipe by which a predetermined gaspressure may be established and maintained in said casing, incombination with a housing about said impeller and provided with inletand outlet passages, the last named passage constructed and adapted todirect water pumped by said impeller over the smooth exterior of saidcasing, and a tubular suspension member constructed and adapted toinclose power wires to said motor and t0 inclose said pipes.

7. In a vertical pumping unit, a motor and a gas tight casing inclosingsaid motor, a shaft driven by said motor and passing through packingmeans in said casing and adapted to drive an impeller, a pipe passingthrough and terminating in the lower inside of said casing and an oilreservoir feeding lubricant through said pipe under pressure,

pipes. v

. JOHN B. KEATING.

